From this Sunday, June 26, 2022, the Stade Lavallois is going on an internship at the Château du Bois-Guy in Parigné-sur-Braye, near Fougères. A high-level football center, which has received FIFA approval. Discover in preview where the Tango will prepare for Ligue 2.
Stade Lavallois footballers are leaving the department until July 2. And not just anywhere: the Tango will continue to prepare for Ligue 2 in Ille-et-Vilaine, near Fougères, at the Château du Bois-Guy.
This is’an ultra-modern sports center in the heart of the forest which recently received approval from FIFA. France Bleu Mayenne was able to visit the premises in preview with its Danish owner Mickael Linhoff. “Welcome to the Disney Land of Football” he exclaims. Here, the rooms directly overlook the football field. A rare asset for clubs when they are on summer training. “Very often clubs have to share the hotel with other customers. Players must take their bus in the morning to go to a training ground and back to the hotel. And once more. There, no need” he explains.
The rooms are opulent, stone walls reminiscent of a cottage in Normandy. The pitch is 100% natural grasswith an ultra-efficient drainage system and unique water management. “There are 110 nozzles for automatic watering. They are entirely managed by a computer“. A video room for analysts is installed right next door. Training can be filmed using drones.
At the edge of the pitch, a huge balloon-shaped machine. “There are 25 footballs inside. It is managed by an iPad. The coach chooses the precise place where he wants to send the ball for the player. There is a margin of error of 30 to 50 centimeters so it is extremely precise” continues Michael Linhoff. Convenient to work on volleys for example.
The opinion of Petr Cech
On the estate, the guards also have a field. Something to impress Petr Cech, legend of the English club Chelsea, met during our visit. “When we do a physical preparation, the players generally take the whole field. It means goalkeepers have to use limited space. But when you have two pitches, that means everyone has enough space to do the session. And I think that’s an undeniable asset“explains the former Czech goalkeeper.
Three sports doctors (conventioned and registered with the council of the order of Ille-et-Vilaine) also live at the castle. To relax after the effort, the Tangos will be able to take advantage of a billiard room, yoga room, table tennis and table football. The Stade Lavallois is in training at the Château du Bois-Guy until Saturday July 2. The day before, Friday therefore, the Mayenne will play their first preparation match against Concarneau, in Fougères at 6 p.m..